Bernie the Barracuda

So there I was, walking the streets of Boston with my guitar slung over my back, like some urban cowboy, complete with spurs and chaps (ok, well "sneakers and jeans", but close enough). It was a great sunny day, with a wind that made you keep that light jacket on, but still made it comfortable to be out and about. As I was walking down Comm. Ave. with my favorite person (let's call her "Ellie"), lost in conversation about something trivial yet wonderful, I heard someone call out.

Using my uncanny peripheral vision, I realized that the shout came from the homeless man about 15 feet to our right, resting in the shadow of one of the many beautiful stone buildings that dot Comm. Ave. Then I realized what he was yelling: he was asking me to play him a song.

This was awkward. This is the part where I'd smile uncomfortably, make some excuse about being late, or (most likely) just ignore him completely and keep walking. There'd be a slight lull in the conversation but we'd soon be on our way, comfortably forgetting that there's people out there that don't eat as much in a week as I do in a day. I mean who wants to have THAT thought weighing you down. Talk about buzzkill.

But for some reason (let's call him "the Holy Spirit") I stopped. I walked over to this guy and he asked me if I knew how to play "Barracuda". I didn't. He offered to teach me. I accepted.

So he slipped my guitar over his shoulder and slowly began to plunk out this vaguely familiar song (which I have to assume is "Barracuda"). After he was done, he handed the guitar back to me and I thanked him for the lesson. Then I told him my name was John and shook his hand. He said his name was Bernie.

So...I stopped and let a homeless guy play my guitar - big deal! Although, if you know me, I'm usually a little particular about who I let strum ol' Suzanne. Plus I have this thing about having clean hands, but I digress...The point is for once, I didn't just ignore this guy (like I normally would). And although we didn't spend hours talking, nor did I baptize him before I left, I hope that I was able to show him just a fraction of Jesus' love.

Jesus said "love one another as I have loved you"(John 15:12). And how did Jesus love? I think he made every person he talked to feel like they were the most important person in the room (or on the pasture, whatever). He made a point to talk to the social outcasts of the day - the beggers, the blind, the sick - and made them a focal point of his ministry. He didn't ignore them.

Ouch. That thought is awfully convicting. If Jesus is the model for my life, I'm pretty far off the mark in this category. It gets worse:

"If anyone has this world's goods and sees his brother in need but shuts off his compassion from him - how can God's love reside in him?" -1 John 3:17

John goes on to say that we "must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth." That means action, people. People are going to see God's love in us when we show others love.

I hope that in that small gesture, Bernie the "Barracuda" could see even just a glimpse of Christ's love. Maybe next time I can offer to buy him a sandwich. But what about you?? Is there someone in your life that you refuse to show love to? If God loves everyone exactly the same, how can we play favorites? If so, you better check yo' self, cuz God be like "c'mon, man! That ain't what I be showin' ya! I keeps it real!"

Or something along those lines...